Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO)

Events Calendar

  • 2026 TRIB Group Meeting of the Minds

    Paris Las Vegas 3655 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV, United States

    Meeting of the Minds brings together nearly 100 of the largest Rent to Own Industry manufacturers & distributors along with hundreds of independent and franchisee store owners and operators for […]

  • 2026 AVB BrandSource Summit

    Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN, United States

    The AVB BrandSource Annual Summit is a key event for appliance, electronics, and home furnishings retailers, featuring insightful presentations, expert-led sessions, networking opportunities, and vendor expos. It helps industry professionals […]

  • 2026 Defining RTO in an AI-Driven World Webinar

    APRO Webinar

    Defining Rent-to-Own in an AI-Driven World: A Live Q&A on APRO's New GEO Toolkit Artificial intelligence is already shaping how consumers, journalists, and policymakers understand rent-to-own – and how individual […]

  • 2026 Nationwide PrimeTime – Spring

    Broward County Convention Center 1950 Eisenhower Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States

    Hosted for over 30 years and more than 60 events, PrimeTime, Nationwide Marketing Group's biannual Member conference and tradeshow, is an event for Independent retailers looking to improve their results […]

  • 2026 Before LegCon: Advocacy Prep Webinar

    APRO Webinar

    Speakers: To Be Announced Please join us on Friday, April 10, 2026, from 2:00–3:00 PM (Central Time) LegCon registrants will receive a separate, direct invitation to join this required webinar. Please […]

  • LEAP Session 15 | No More Ice Cream Sandwiches

    LEAP Program

    Welcome to LEAP, an exciting leadership development program brought to you by APRO and TRIB Group. LEAP is designed to cultivate leadership skills within the RTO industry. Each month, we’ll explore a new […]

  • 2026 APRO Legislative Conference

    The Royal Sonesta Washington 20 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC, United States

    Each spring, APRO members from across the country head to Washington, D.C., to share the rent-to-own story with federal lawmakers during the APRO Legislative Conference. This three-day experience brings together […]

  • 2026 Highpoint Furniture Market – Spring

    High Point Market Authority 164 South Main Street, Suite 700, High Point, NC, United States

    High Point Market is the ultimate destination for all things design, offering endless product options and unexpected moments of joy. It’s not just about products, but also about the experience, […]

  • 2026 TRIB Retreat

    Southernmost Beach Resort 1319 Duval St, Key West, FL, United States

    Relax resort-side on white sand beaches or one of many heated pools. Set out on a Key West adventure along America's only living reef system. Discover the heart of this […]

  • LEAP Session 16 | Ordinary IS Extraordinary

    LEAP Program

    Welcome to LEAP, an exciting leadership development program brought to you by APRO and TRIB Group. LEAP is designed to cultivate leadership skills within the RTO industry. Each month, we’ll explore a new […]

  • 2026 HR Training & Onboarding Webinar

    APRO Webinar

    Speakers: Ashton Atkinson, Impact RTO Holdings dba Rent-A-Center Please join us on Thursday, May 21, 2026, from 2:00–3:00 PM (Central Time) Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82007643854 Not a member yet? You’re missing out […]

  • 2026 Heartland of America Regional Tradeshow

    The Lodge of Four Seasons 315 Four Seasons Drive, Lake Ozark, MO, United States

    The annual Heartland of America Tradeshow and Seminar, hosted by the Missouri Rental Dealers Association (MRDA), brings together rent-to-own professionals from across the region for a day of networking, educational […]

  • LEAP Session 17

    LEAP Program

    Welcome to LEAP, an exciting leadership development program brought to you by APRO and TRIB Group. LEAP is designed to cultivate leadership skills within the RTO industry. Each month, we’ll explore a new […]

  • 2026 Delivery & Installation Safety Webinar

    APRO Webinar

    Speakers: To Be Announced Please join us on Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 2:00–3:00 PM (Central Time) Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82007643854 Not a member yet? You’re missing out on exclusive resources, free […]

  • 2026 Legal Town Hall Webinar

    APRO Webinar

    Speakers: Justin Hosie and Dailey Wilson, Hudson Cook, LLP Please join us on Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 2:00–3:00 PM (Central Time) Registration Link: https://apro.rtohq.org/ap/Events/Register/eZFO496tYCWCq Not a member yet? You’re missing out on […]

  • 2026 VersiRent User Conference

    MSU Riley Center 2200 5th St, Meridian, MS, United States

    The VersiRent User Conference enables attendees to explore new capabilities you may not even realize are available in VersiRent. Their team will walk you through features designed to make your […]

  • 2026 Las Vegas Summer Market

    Las Vegas Furniture Market 475 S. Grand Central Pkwy, Suite 1615, Las Vegas, NV, United States

    Las Vegas Market is the premier furniture, home decor, and gift trade show on the West Coast, hosted at the World Market Center in Las Vegas. The event offers an […]

  • 2026 AVB BrandSource Convention

    The Venetian 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV, United States

    The AVB BrandSource Annual Convention is a premier event for appliance, electronics, and home furnishings retailers. It offers valuable networking, educational sessions, product showcases, and innovative retail solutions to help […]

  • 2026 Buddy’s Leadership Conference

    Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando Resort 6300 Hollywood Way, Orlando, FL, United States

    The annual Buddy’s Leadership Conference is a premier gathering where leaders from across the Buddy’s Home Furnishings network come together to share insights, collaborate, and explore new ways to make […]

  • 2026 Nationwide PrimeTime – Fall

    Music City Center 201 Rep. John Lewis Way South, Nashville, TN, United States

    Hosted for over 30 years and more than 60 events, PrimeTime, Nationwide Marketing Group's biannual Member conference and tradeshow, is an event for Independent retailers looking to improve their results […]

  • 2026 RTO World

    Palm Beach County Convention Center 650 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL, United States

    Get ready for the ultimate rent-to-own experience at RTO World 2026, co-hosted by APRO and TRIB Group! From August 24-27, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida, this is your chance […]

Submit Your Event

Have an upcoming event the RTO community should know about? Submit your event details to be featured on APRO’s industry calendar! Whether it’s a conference, trade show, meeting, or special gathering, we’ll help spread the word and keep the community connected.

Submit Your Event

Upcoming Events



Mike Lewis

Mike Lewis is a Premier Rental Purchase franchisee with multiple stores and currently serves as Vice President of Operations. With 33 years of experience in the rent-to-own industry, he has spent the past 20 years working closely with franchisee owners and previously spent 12 years in Corporate RTO, gaining a strong foundation in the business.

For the past five years, Mike has been sharing his knowledge by teaching managers and franchisees at the company’s Training Center.

Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, kids, and grandkids, and appreciates the simple things in life – especially riding his Harley Davidson with the sun on his face. If you know, you know!

Lauren Talicska

Arona Corporation dba Arona Home Essentials

Lauren Talicska is an experienced multi-channel marketing specialist and the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Arona Home Essentials. She has found her home in the RTO community, supporting stores in branding, growth, and increasing traffic.

You may recognize Lauren as a former RTO vendor, including her time as a partner for Nationwide RentDirect, or her previous participation in the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee. Lauren calls Columbus, Ohio, home and spends her workday crafting and executing marketing promotions from inception to realization, all while supporting the branding and social media needs of all the Arona stores in 12 states (plus Puerto Rico!).

Charles Smitherman

APRO

Charles Smitherman, JD, PhD, CAE, became CEO of APRO in 2023, bringing years of legal and executive experience in the rent-to-own industry. 

Prior to joining the association, Charles served as COO, General Counsel, and Vice President of PTS Financial Services, where he played an active role in the rent-to-own industry by representing his company through PTS’s club program offering with APRO member dealers. Charles is an attorney with two decades of experience across a wide variety of areas, including RTO, consumer financial services, antitrust, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, franchise law, and privacy law. Following law school at the University of Georgia, Charles earned a Master of Legal Studies and PhD in Law from the University of Oxford in England.

Charles is credentialed as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives, a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) with the International Franchise Association, and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. As APRO’s sixth CEO in its 45-year history, he brings a collaborative, member-focused approach to association leadership, emphasizing transparency, advocacy, and value creation. Outside of work, Charles is an active ultra runner and open water swimmer.

Mike Kays

Ashley Furniture Industries

As VP of Rental Sales for Ashley Furniture Industries, Mike thrives on building relationships with our RTO industry veterans, and helping businesses grow through new product, new marketing, and new supply chain options.

Mike works to leverage a wide breadth of relationships and influence, intimate knowledge of market trends, and unique knowledge of what RTO dealers need from a supplier to be successful.

The saying goes that a high tide raises all boats, and our goal is to leverage the world’s largest furniture manufacturer to drive the continued growth of the RTO industry and all the suppliers.

Mike Tissot

Countryside Rentals Inc., dba Rent-2-Own

Mike grew up in the rent-to-own industry under the guidance of his father, former APRO President and RTO legend Darrell Tissot. For nearly 25 years, Mike’s innovative leadership has helped expand the family business to more than 40 stores across Ohio and Kentucky while also shaping the industry as a whole.

He has served as President of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association, an APRO board member and Treasurer, and President and Treasurer of the TRIB Group. His contributions have earned him the APRO President’s Award of Excellence and the title of APRO Rental Dealer of the Year.

Outside of RTO, Mike enjoys time at the lake house or in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his girlfriend, Angela Strong McCool. A passionate Cincinnati Reds fan, he rarely misses a game, whether watching or listening alongside his parents. He also takes every opportunity to visit Arizona, where his daughter is currently attending Arizona State University.